Wheelbarrow Castle, Leominster

Great house for large groups. Easy to find, great communication from the owners. Nice welcome gifts.

Had a wonderful stay last weekend, the house had everything we needed and more! Actually the photos on the website didnt do it justice! Only a very minor point but having a building layout plan on the website wouldve helped a lot with planning who to put where before we arrived. Everything was just great thank you!

We booked Wheelbarrow Castle for a family celebration. The family included two children, two teenagers and four seniors aged 71 92. The indoor and outdoor space were perfect for the young ones. There were so many different areas to explore for them it was a great adventure! The large sitting area was great when we wanted everyone together. The smaller rooms were cozy and comfortable and with the outside spaces provided an opportunity for people to have peace and quiet when they felt the need. There were a range of bedrooms which met our complex needs, including a ground floor room which was ideal for the 92 year old. There were ample bathroom facilities. The dining spaces inside and out easily accommodated our group of 13 and the kitchen was well stocked with a variety of glasses, cutlery pans and crockery. We did, however, need some large oven proof dishes and indeed we bought four to use during our stay. We had a lovely week exploring the surrounding area with its many attractions.

Pros Plenty of space inside and out, with a beautifully decorated interior and spacious patio attached to the back field. Amenities are great, especially the hot tub and two BBQ's, as well as the tables inside. Location is very close to local shops and train station. Beds are comfy, clean and have ensuites which are very convenient. Lots of kitchen cupboard space. Owners were prompt with communication, on top of fire safety and our security, with a welcome packet relaying the necessary information for our stay. They live next to the property and were always available. Cons WiFi was shortrange, with only usable in one or two rooms of the whole property, but still good when connection was strong. Oven lacked a heatproof glass plate behind its door, causing some damage to its plastic lining upon use around halfway through our stay. However, when we reported this to the owners, they acknowledged the situation promptly and did not charge us for any repairs. Birds are nesting in the roof, so the top floor bedrooms were noisy at night due to the noise they made. A few of the kitchen drawers were broken. The fridgefreezer in the property was small for the number of people the property can house, but was still quite spacious and perfect for our needs. There was a slight issue with flies in the kitchen, but we have put this down to the excess of BBQ food we cooked on the third day of our stay. The hot tub was set to quite a low temperature and could not be increased in temp by ourselves due to previous damage. While we expect the owners set the default temp lower due to the hot weather, we'd recommend setting it to 40C instead of 32. Overall, Wheelbarrow Castle was an amazing property and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. It was in an ideal location for us in the beautiful Hereford countryside and the price was much better than other properties of similar size. While the property had a few maintenance issues, these were minor and did not stop us from enjoying our holiday, and the owners were quick to resolve the singular issue we had. We'd highly recommend Wheelbarrow Castle and give our thanks to David and Nicola for their services!

Lovely place for extended family to spend an 80th birthday. Downstairs ensuite twin room is accessible at ground level from the back door. Plenty of space both inside and outside and a wonderful hot tub which was hot on arrival which doesnt happen often. The garden furniture was a bit rickety and could do with some tlc. The photos dont really do the space justice.

Excellent property stunning location, had everything you could have wanted for a perfect girls weekend. The highlight was the stunning lounge, great for activities and games, place was clean and comfortable, had a few issues with the cooker but David the host was literally there in 2 minutes to help sort. Hot tub was beautiful and walk to the pub was a lovely addition. Will highly recommend for a large group stay

A gorgeous home for a gathering of friends and we all enjoyed a fabulous weekend of unexpected sunshine which was a bonus. Sat out in the garden until the sun had gone and then moved into the cosy lounge. The hot tub was a good treat for us and the beds are very comfortable. Slept well and awoke to the gorgeous lambs bleating in the field opposite which made my morning. Would recommend a stay at wheelbarrow castle

Very nice property where we had a great holiday. All facilities in working order so no issues, and very nice and warm despite the cold, wet weather ! Some furnishing were a little tired but perhaps that adds character to a lovely old house. So many thanks and no complaints

We stayed at Wheelbarrow Cottage over Christmas and had a wonderful time. The booking process was very straightforward and David the owner was very helpful. The house was perfect for what we wanted with a lovely big kitchen and lounge and really good sized bedrooms. The children loved exploring the house and it felt very magical being there at Christmas time. We would love to come back in the summer and enjoy the gardens and hot tub more. We loved the walk to the local pub which is only 10 minutes away. Really good value for money and I would highly recommend to anyone wanting a house for a large family gathering, event or special occasion with friends. Thank you for having us!

This property was perfect for us and we really enjoyed our stay. We were a large family group with two wellbehaved dogs. We had a relaxing time and the hot tub was particularly popular! We walked some of the footpaths right next to the house in pleasant surroundings. Good communication and support from the nearby owners.

Very large comfortable house with plenty of space for a large group or family. We were generally warm and comfortable but worth noting that at least one of the attic bedrooms with single beds has no heating so could be very cold depending on the time of year. Decor was a little down at heel in places. I felt the kitchen equipment really let the place down we did a fair amount of food prep cooking.. It was a hodge podge of mismatched stuff that looked as if it had come from a car boot sale. Having said that we did find most of what we wanted no bread bin and the plates and mugs were matching if fairly old and utilitarian. One of the fridges caused a problem on our arrival as a door shelf was broken and drinks fell out and were broken the owner brought us a mop when we requested, but did not seek to make any recompense. Both fridges were fairly old and space was tight for the number the house accomodates. Having said all that it is a lovely old house and we enjoyed our stay.

We had a great family celebration. Fifteen people in one lounge for fun, the smaller lounge helpful for a small group and 15 people around one meal table was great. We're glad to have found this venue.

We stayed for a long weekend as a family group for a belated 70th birthday celebration. The house was ideal, with lots of room for all. The house was very clean and comfortable. It is very spacious with an interesting layout that we all loved exploring. The photos really dont do it justice. Theres outside space with lots of seating and the hot tub was enjoyed by all.

The house and cottage were great for our week away with family and friends. David, the owner, was extremely pleasant and helpful. The house was full of character, the kitchen was well equipped and the huge lounge was perfect for so many people. I would warn people that the floors are uneven, especially on the ground floor. The main bedroom has an amazing en suite bathroom, but it has steps between it and the bedroom. Overall we loved our stay, thank you.

A beautiful house and a lovely location to fit the entire family. It is a bit tired and in need of some tlc. The oven was temperamental and took ages to heat up. Communication was very good, David was very helpful

Plenty of room for our family get together,including three children and two dogs. The welcome hamper was appreciated. The kitchen was extremely well equipped, probably the best range of pans, crockery etc that Ive been offered. It was a shame that some of the kitchen fronts were not fixed. The hot tub was very welcome and lovely and hot. Some of the rooms need a bit of TLC. Overall, we enjoyed our stay. The area has plenty to offer including walks, National Trust houses, local historic towns etc.

Large property that was a great size for our family holiday. We did enjoy our time away. The property was well equipped and we spent most of our time in the kitchen which was a lovely space. However we all felt that the property needed attention. We were generally quite disappointed and felt that the property needed a lot of TLC. So, here are some examples of our experience Main kitchen door was unusable and needed attention so we didnt use it and just used the other. Kitchen floor and oven needed a good clean. Cobwebs. Plaster falling off the walls. Leaking shower over the kitchen. Broken kitchen draws etc Broken toilet roll holder downstairs which had been replaced with a stand but the broken one was just left on the wall. Garden furniture was rotten. Cheap bedsmattresses down stairs No hand rail in the downstairs shower room. We felt that a fenced area for the dogs would have been good to have. We did use some garden furniture to make an area but obviously not ideal. Outside area is not really suitable for disabled individuals, parents were unable to explore due to the steepness of the garden. Hot tub was nice but again looked tired and not sure it was as hot as it should have been. We understand the property is old but it just felt like it wasnt maintained as well as it should be. Unfortunately we wont be returning.

Great place , Hosts really helpful and accommodating

We had a wonderful family stay at Wheelbarrow Castle, it was perfect to get everyone together. Plenty of space for everyone more than we expected! The hot tub was a lovely treat too, although it did get very dark out there on an evening and the timed lights went off very quickly. Some outdoor lights that stayed on would be helpful.

Absolutely ideal for our needs. All of us had a great time during our weekend. There was an initially an issue with the WiFi which was promptly fixed when we raised the issue.

We were a large family gathering with children and older people. The accomodation was much better than expected and the facilities were wonderful. David showed us around after greeting us and was available over the weekend to assist with any questions. We have a meetup with family from all over the UK every year and this has been the best place we've stayed at. The only things to improve the house facilities is having an enclosed garden and glasses in the bathroom for our morning tablets. But overall it was a wonderful stay and we would recommend the place to anyone wanting to get together over the festive period. We had lunch at the Grove golf course Hickories .... Very close and good service.

Wheelbarrow Castle was an excellent venue for our extended family weekend and attending a wedding in the area. The hosts are friendly. The house is great, with loads of character and loads of space, including two separate lounges with and without TV. Woodburner was a nice feature. Well appointed kitchen. Nice hottub even in October but not very warm in the mornings. Obviously, with it being a 'real' house rather than a purposemade apartment to rent it is quirky and 'livedin'. This makes it a very comfortable place to stay.

The most amazing house and an absolutely perfect house to get family of all ages together. Great socialising space which is very well equipped. A slightly unusual layout in parts led to the best game of hide and seek for the kids and adults that never got old! One point of note is the very limited WiFi. For the most part, not a problem as we were there to socialise not browse! However, accessing work emails wasnt possible at all. We would all absolutely go back and David the host was very friendly, helpful and informative.

We had a really lovely weekend at Wheelbarrow Castle. Plenty of room for 8 adults and 9 kids to have their own space. The house is beautiful with good facilities, the hot tub was a great addition providing a fun activity during rainy weekend! Our host was very welcoming and particularly helpful in returning my daughters swimming costume to us which she left in one of the many bathrooms and had caused a few tears when she got home originally!

There were positives and negatives to our three night stay. We were a group of 11 female friends, in our 60's. I hope by providing constructive feedback this will help similar groups like ours who have had this annual weekend together in self catering houses for the past 27 years. The positives are the downstairs areas are very spacious, warm and comfortable. The largest Reception Room is cosy, welcoming and an excellent base for drinks and games. The kitchen is extremely well equipped a spacious dining area, we liked the garden and there was ample car parking. The property is very well located for NT properties and we really enjoyed visiting Hereford and The Fishermans Arms. All the beds were comfortable and the four ensuite rooms were very well presented. The negatives are that we had underestimated the size of two of the bedrooms on Floor 3. The website is not misleading but until you see the bedrooms you do not realise how small they are. If we had been aware of this we would not have booked the property. Whilst the beds were comfortable there was very limited storage space, no tables or mirrors or places to put any belongings. It did negatively impact on the experience and enjoyment of the friends who used those rooms. The kitchen is well equipped but needs to be sorted out some equipment needs replacing or upgraded. A number of the wooden drawers were broken, crockery was chipped and cutlery dirty. Overall, as a group we would only give the Wheelbarrow Castle 3 Stars for our experience.

Loved our stay. It was perfect for 60th celebration for 16 of us. All very easy for catering easily with large kitchenutility area adjacent for dining room, square table ideal David was very flexible in sorting out our bedding arrangements Would definitely return. Garden area lovely

Wonderful location for a 10 year reunion of a group of 15, ranging from 7 yrs old to 47 years old. Thank you for superb weekend David. We are already discussing coming back again!

We loved our time at Wheelbarrow Castle. 12 adults 8 kids. Would 100 recommend.

We stayed for a weekend at Wheelbarrow Castle, 14 of us from ages 3 to 73. The owners were very friendly and helpful, and the welcome basket was a lovely touch. Its equipped with everything you need high chairs, baby cots, zbeds, tonnes of cutlery, crockery, pots and pans. Beds were comfy and there is so much space! Considering the size of the property it stayed lovely and warm. We had such a lovely time there, its a little dated but its got a lot of charm.

It was the perfect location and property size for a group of 15 friends to celebrate my 60th Birthday. The space meant we could all spread out if need be or come together in the communal areas. Nothing was too much trouble from our host too, great weekend

We had a fantastic time at Wheelbarrow Castle! The house was an absolute gem, even with 17 of us it felt spacious and David was incredibly helpful over the weekend. The hot tub was a great addition and there's also lovely areas to walk nearby. Would happily stay here again!

Property full of character but is tired and in need of update. One small family bathroom not suitable to service three bedrooms accommodating 7 people. Larger of the bedrooms on first floor didnt have facilities for hair drying as it didnt have a mirror and the curtains were falling of the curtain rail. The light didnt work in the shower in the bathroom. Family room didnt have a mirror either. Whilst the kitchen had plenty of cutlery and pots and pans there was a definite shortage of serving dishes for a party of 16. The cooker definitely needed a deep clean as there was a lot of food down the vents at the back. There wasnt enough fridge space for our five day stay a second larger fridge would have been beneficial as the small fridge in the kitchen wasnt big enough. Whilst there was a large table in the dining area we couldnt all sit together, I did read it couldnt fit the whole party you shouldnt advertise the house to accommodate 17 when only 14 could sit at table for a meal. We were disappointed with the poor amount of Christmas decorations. Christmas tree in the main room with just a few pieces in the sitting rooms. The internet was very poor. It would have helped if we could have attached a cable directly into the modem for streaming. We ended up using one of the guests 4g phone data. On the plus side the house was warm and we had all the family together for Christmas. The owner was helpful when we arrived.

Our family of 12 plus a baby had a wonderful preXmas week at Wheelbarrow Castle. It is a fantastic property and we really enjoyed all the space this house provides. Some of us took advantage of the hot tub too. Our only moan was that the internet was very patchy but it didn't spoil our stay. We would love to return in the future.

We were very happy with our stay and found everything just as described and just how we needed. We found everything easily and were grateful for the generous amount of cutlery, crockery, pots and pans. The weather became much colder while we were there, but Wheelbarrow Castle remained warm and comfortable. It was a great base from which to discover Herefordshire. Thank you.

We loved Wheelbarrow Castle had a big family reunion there and it was magical! Thank you so much and I hope we can come again in the future

Great holiday house for our large family gathering to celebrate my mum's 90th. Room for the children to run around & well equipped. WiFi is not great & bathrooms not over plenty but is an old house & comfortable enough to share. Kitchen & dining area a great space for communal meals & games afterwards. Enjoyed our stay very much.

We have had a bad experience with the owner but the property overall is a good property for a large group. It has good amenities, spacious etc. I would suggest it is more appropriate for a family rather than a large group of friends due to a few negatives we experienced, which I list below. A few considerations before booking which we didnt realise The garden is not secure so if you have dogs please bare this in mind. The owners property is connected, music considerations etc. Finally, the owner contacted me a few weeks after our stay berating us for a list of items he sees as negative. Very unprofessional and should have gone through Sykes rather than directly emailing guests. We had caused no damage so he was unable to claim on our bond which I thinks makes it clear the items he raised werent important. A good example is that he complained about the amount of rubbish we produced which we left by the bins in bin bags. So beware before you book, you might have to take your rubbish with you if you dont want to receive condescending emails.

Absolutely fabulous rental! We stayed for a week as a group of 6 children and 11 adults. The house is clean, kitchen very well stocked and any request extra tea towels and scales haha was dealt with promptly. Plenty of space for people to split off and relax kids one end, adults the other and a lovely big dining area for everyone to meet back up and share a meal together. Only downside would be the WiFi, dont bring anything reliant on WiFi as its not going to connect no Fifa tournaments or movie nights We will definitely be booking up again.

This is a perfect house for a family get together. The kitchen is well equipped for family catering and the large lounge is ideal for a party. Everywhere is really comfortable and warm but not so pristine that you need to worry about the children spoiling anything. The outside space is lovely if the weather is good and the hot tub was much appreciated. We had a wonderful weekend and would highly recommend.